Carton for stacked articles



May 21, 1968 e. A. MANIZZA CARTON FOR STACKED ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 18, 1966 GUELFO AMANIZZA ATTORNEYS May 21, 1968 G. A. MANIZZACARTON FOR STACKED ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1966 I .8INVENTOR GUELFO A. MAmzZA United States Patent 3,384,223 CARTON FORSTACKED ARTICLES Guelfo A. Manizza, Blauvelt, N.Y., assignor toContinental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled May 18, 1966, Ser. No. 551,061 17 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a novel carton for stackedarticles, and is particularly directed to a carton which embraces andpartially houses two articles, such as containers, of two differentsizes. The carton includes a body defining a chamber at least one end ofwhich is closed. A flange portion of the lowermost container is receivedin an opening of the body defined by a flap thereof directed radiallyinto the chamber, and an uppermost of the containers is housed in thechamber with its bottom surface at least partially overlyinglycontacting the flap and being cushioned thereby.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel carton formaintaining a plurality of articles in stacked relationship including agenerally tubular body having axially opposite end portions, the tubularbody defining a chamber for wholly housing an uppermost article andpartially housing a lowermost article, means for closing an uppermostone of the end portions, an opposite one of the end portions beingdevoid of closing means, and means for interlockingly engaging thetubular body with a lowermost of the articles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carton of thetype just described including means integrally formed from the materialof the tubular body and projecting into the chamber for preventingcomplete contact between a bottom surface of the uppermost article and atop surface of the lowermost article whereby frangible articles arecushioned against breakage during storage and/or shipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carton of thetype heretofore described wherein the opposite end portion of thetubular body is of an undulating configuration for matingly embracing anexterior surface of the lowermost one of the articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel carton of thetype heretofore described wherein the tubular body is defined by front,rear and side panels, and the interlocking means is an opening formed ineach of the body panels into which is received a portion of thelowermost of the articles.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a novel carton constructed inaccordance with this invention, and illustrates a lowermost articleinterlockingly secured to the carton and an uppermost article completelyhoused within a chamber thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom perspective view of the carton of FIGURE 1, andillustrates radially inwardly directed flaps defining cushioning meansbetween the uppermost and lowermost articles.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 33 ofFIGURE 1, and illustrates an opening defined by flap portions ofadjacent panels of the "ice carton through which the uppermost articlecan be viewed.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongline 44 of FIGURE 1 with the articles shown in side elevation, andillustrates the manner in which the uppermost article is supported bythe lowermost article and the interlocking securement of the lowermostarticle to the carton.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a blank from which the carton of FIGURES1 through 4 is constructed, and illustrates the generally planarconfiguration thereof prior to being formed into the carton and unitedwith the articles.

A novel carton constructed in accordance with this invention is fullyillustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings, and is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10. The carton 10 is preferablyconstructed from a blank 15 (FIGURE 5) of generally planar sheetmaterial such as paperstock or similar relatively foldable flexiblematerial.

Referring first to the blank 15 of FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the blank15 includes a generally planar sheet material member 16 defined bygenerally parallel transverse edges 17, 18 and longitudinal edges 20,21. The longitudinal edge 21 is of a generally irregular configurationand defines a plurality of closure flaps 22 through 24, the latterincluding a closure tab 25.

The blank 15 is separated into a plurality of panels 26 through 30 byrespective transverse fold lines 31 through 34.

The panel 26 is relatively narrow and is coated with conventionaladhesive A, as is indicated by the stippling in FIGURE 5 of thedrawings. The panel 26 is adapted to be secured to the panel 30 adjacentthe transverse edge 18 to impart a generally tubular configuration tothe blank 15, as will be more apparent hereafter.

For purposes of description the panel 27 is considered a rear panel, andis defined by the fold lines 31, 32, a portion (unnumbered) of thelongitudinal edge 21, and an edge portion 35 opening concavelydownwardly as viewed in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. A tab 36 is formedfrom the material of the panel 27 by means of a relatively shallowU-shaped cut or severance line 37. The tab or flap 36 is adapted to befolded radially inwardly along a fold line 38 during the setting-up ofthe blank 15, as will be more apparent hereafter.

The panel 28, which may be considered a first side panel, is defined bythe fold lines 32, 33, a fold line 40 and another concavely opening edgeportion 41 of the longitudinal edge 20. The side panel 28 similarlyincludes a tab or flap 42 defined by a generally U-shaped out line 43which is foldable along a fold line 44. The fold line 44 is in alignmentwith the fold line 38 and the tab or flap 42 is thereby adapted to befolded into a plane substantially coincidental to the plane of the flap36. The fold line 33 is interrupted by a cut line 45 which is generallyparallel to a fold line 46 adjacent the fold line 32. Severance lines48, 50 join the out line 45 and the fold line 46 and define therewith aflap or tab 51.

The panel 29 which may be considered to be a front panel is defined bythe fold line 33, 34, a fold line 52 and a concavely opening edgeportion 53 of the longitudinal edge 20. A generally shallow U-shapedseverance line 54 defines a flap or tab 55 which is joined to the panel29 along a fold line 56 which is parallel to the fold lines 38, 44 ofthe respective panels 27, 28. The panel 29 is similarly provided with afold line 57 which is joined to the severance or cut line 45 by spacedout lines 58, 59. The cut lines 45, 58 and 59, and the fold line 57define a flap or tab 60 which is similar in configuration to the flap51.

The panel 30, which may be considered a second side panel, is defined bythe fold line 34, the transverse edge 18, a fold line 62 and a concavelyopening edge portion 63 of the longitudinal edge 20. A generally shallowU-shaped severance line 64 defines a tab or flap 65 which is joined tothe panel 30 along a fold line 66. The fold line 66 is similarlycoincident to the fold lines 38, 44 and 56.

A pair of articles A1, A2 are secured together in stacked relationshipby the carton in the manner best illustrated in FIGURES l and 4 of thedrawings by the folding of the blank to a generally tubularconfiguration. The articles A1, A2 are preferably jars or containers J1,J2 which include respective reduced threaded necks N1, N2 which areclosed by respective closures C1, C2. The container or jar J2 isrelatively larger in axial length and diameter, as compared to the axiallength and diameter of the container J1.

The jar J2 is first filled with a suitable edible or nonedible productwhich may be, for example, coffee, after which the closure C2 is securedto the threaded neck N2. The flaps or tabs 36, 42, 55 and 64- are thenfolded in the same direction generally normal to the respective panels27, 28, 29 and 30 of the blank 15 and the blank 15 is wrapped about theneck N2 in a manner which permits arcuate portions of the closure C2 toproject through the openings (unnumbered) defined by the now folded tabs36, 42, 55 and 65. The tabs 36, 42, 54 and 65 are positioned above theuppermost surface of the closure C2, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 4of the drawings. The securing panel 26 is placed in contact with theinterior surface of the panel 30 (FIGURE 3) and maintains the carton 10in the generally tubular configuration thereof illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The edge portion 35, 41, 53 and 63 loosely embrace the exterior surface(unnumbered) of the container J2 and the curvature thereof correspondsgenerally to the exterior curvature of the container J2. The edgeportions 35, 41, 53 and 63 thereby permit the carton 10 to be secured toa container which has a downwardly and outwardly flared exteriorsurface.

After the carton 10 has been secured to the container J2 in the mannerheretofore described, the flaps or panels 51, 60 are folded radiallyinwardly along the respective fold lines 46, 57 to a position similar tothat illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. With the closure flaps 22through 24 open, the jar or container J1 with contents packaged thereinand the neck N1 closed by the closure C1 is inserted into a chamber(unnumbered) defined by the carton 10. The closure flaps 22, 23 are thenfolded into a common plane (FIGURES 1 and 2) after which the closureflap 24 is folded into overlying relationship thereto with the closuretab 25 being directed axially downwardly, in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 4 of the drawings. The natural resiliency of the material fromwhich the carton is constructed tends to urge the flaps 51, 60 to theirinitial positions in the planes of the respective panels 28, 29, therebytending to urge the container J1 toward a viewing opening (unnumbered)defined by the severance lines 48, 50, 53, 59 and the fold lines 46, 57.The flaps 51, 60 thereby function as locating means to maintain thecontainer J1 positioned adjacent the viewing window or opening with, forexample, indicia on the container readily viewable through the viewingopening.

It is also to be noted that the bottom wall (unnumbered) of thecontainer J1 rests upon the flaps 36, 42, 54 and 65 which function tocushion the container J1 and prevent breakage which might otherwiseoccur if, for example, the container J1 were constructed from glass orsimilar frangible material and was subjected to mishandling duringstorage and/ or shipment.

While a preferred form of the invention has been heretofore fullydescribed and illustrated, it is to be understood that the variouschanges in both the blank 15 and the carton 10 may be made in accordancewith this invention and are considered a part thereof. For example,while the flaps 36, 42, 54 and 65 are preferably folded radiallyinwardly of the carton 10 as was heretofore described provide cushioningmeans between the articles J1 and J2 the tabs may be completely removedalong the respective fold lines 38, 44, 56 and 66. In this case theuppermost one of the articles J1 would rest directly upon the closure C2of the lowermost articles J2.

The panels or flaps 51, 60 can also be removed along the respective foldlines 46, 57, although this construction is less desirable than theillustrated form of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageousprovisions have been made for carrying out the desired end. However,attention is again directed to the fact that additional variations maybe made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blank adapted to be folded to form a carton for maintaining aplurality of articles in stacked relationship comprising a relativelyplanar sheet material member, means for facilitating the folding of saidmember to a generally tubular configuration to define a chamber adaptedto at least partially house a pair of articles in stacked relationship,means for interlockingly engaging the member with a lowermost of thestacked articles, said interlocking means being slot means integrallyformed from said sheet material member, and means foldable out of theplane of said sheet material member for forming said slot means anddefining means for preventing contact between the stacked articles.

2. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said facilitating means is aplurality of fold lines, and said interlocking means is defined by meansdefining at least a single opening in said member.

3. The blank as defined in claim 1 including means at one edge portionof said blank for closing an upper portion of the chamber, and an edgeportion opposite said one edge portion being devoid of closing means.

4. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said facilitating means is aplurality of fold lines setting-off rear, first side, front, and secondside panels respectively, and said interlocking means is defined bymeans defining at least a single opening in each of said panels.

5. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said member includes aplurality of panels, each of said panels having a free terminal edgeportion, and the free terminal edge portion of each panel includingmeans for complementary embracing the exterior of a lowermost of thearticles.

6. The blank as defined in claim 5 wherein said complementary means areconcavo-convex free edges.

7. A blank adapted to be folded to form a carton for maintaining aplurality of articles in stacked relationship comprising a relativelyplanar sheet material member, means for facilitating the folding of saidmember to a generally tubular configuration to define a chamber adaptedto at least partially house a pair of articles in stacked relationship,means for interlockingly engaging a member with a lowermost of thestacked articles, said facilitating means being a plurality of foldlines settingotf rear, first side, front and second side panelsrespectively, said interlocking means being defined by at least a singleopening in each of said panels, a closure flap joined to one edgeportion of said member, another edge portion of said member oppositesaid first-mentioned edge portion being devoid of closure means, andmeans in at least one of said panels between said first-mentioned edgeportion and said openings for viewing the uppermost article in thechamber.

8. The blank as defined in claim 7 wherein said viewing means is definedby an opening formed by folding a portion of one of said panels out ofthe plane of said one panel, and said portion defines means forcushioning the uppermost article in the chamber.

9. The blank as defined in claim 7 wherein said another edge portionincludes means for complementary embracing the exterior of a lowermostof the articles.

10. The blank as defined in claim 7 wherein said another edge portionincludes means for complementary embracing the exterior of a lowermostof the articles, said embracing means being a slot formed in saidanother edge portion between each adjacent pair of said fold lines, eachof said single openings being formed by a tab foldable out of the planeof its associated panel, said viewing means being defined by a pair offlaps in an adjacent pair of paid panels foldable out of the planesthereof, a fold line joining each flap to its associated panel, and saidlast-mentioned fold lines being in parallel relationship.

11. A carton for maintaining a plurality of articles in stackedrelationship comprising a generally tubular body having axially oppositeend portions, said tubular body defining a chamber for housing uppermostand lowermost articles in stacked relationship, means intermediate saidopposite end portions for interlockingly engaging the tubular body withone of the articles, and means integrally formed from the material ofsaid body projecting into said chamber and being at all times connectedto said body for preventing complete contact between a bottom surface ofthe uppermost article and a top surface of the lowermost article.

12. The carton as defined in claim 11 wherein said interlocking means isan opening formed in said body.

13. The carton as defined in claim 11 wherein said opposite end portionis of an undulating configuration for matingly embracing an exteriorsurface of a lowermost one of the articles.

14. The carton as defined in claim 12 including a pair of stackedarticles, a lowermost of said articles being a container, said containerincluding a body terminating at an upper end portion in a radiallyoutwardly directed peripheral flange, a portion of said flange beingreceived in said opening, and an uppermost of said articles being housedin said chamber between said lowermost article and closing means abovesaid uppermost article.

15. A carton for maintaining a plurality of articles in stackedrelationship comprising a generally tubular body having axially oppositeend portions, said tubular body defining a chamber for wholly housing anuppermost article and partially housing a lowermost article, means forclosing an uppermost one of said end portions, an opposite one of saidend portions being devoid of closing means, means for interlockinglyengaging the tubular body with a lowermost of the articles, thelowermost of said articles being a container, said container including abody terminating at an upper end portion in a radially outwardlydirected peripheral flange, a portion of said flange being received insaid opening, said opening being defined by a flap formed from saidtubular body and directed radially inwardly thereof, and the uppermostof said articles being housed in said chamber with a bottom surface ofsaid last-mentioned article at least partially overlyingly contactin gsaid 'ilap and being cushioned thereby.

16. A carton for maintaining a plurality of articles in stackedrelationship comprising a generally tubular body having axially oppositeend portions, said tubular body defining a chamber for housing uppermostand lowermost articles in stacked relationship, at least one of saidarticles having a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange, meansfor interlockingly engaging the peripheral flange of said one article,said interlocking means being an opening into which said flange isreceived, said opening being defined by a flap formed from said tubularbody and being directed radially inwardly thereof, and the other of saidarticles being housed in said body with said flap being sandwichedbetween said uppermost and lowermost articles thereby forming a cushiontherebetween.

17. The carton as defined in claim 16 including means for viewing theuppermost article in said chamber, said viewing means being defined by apanel directed into said chamber, and said last-mentioned panel definingmeans for cushioning the uppermost article in said chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,321,740 11/1919 Harman 229-931,346,792 7/1920 Bergman 221-308 2,844,245 7/1958 Gruber et al. 206-473,029,935 4/1962 Nolte 206-47 3,275,134 9/1966 Bixler 206- WILLIAM T.DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner.

